Adjustable pole



y 10, 1951 G. H. HINES 9 ADJUSTABLE POLE Filed June 23, 1947 FIG. 1 6. 2

JM M, INVENTOR.

Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STABLErPOLE.

Gail Hamilton Hines, Lansing, Mich Application June 23, 1947, Serial No. :75i6,517.i

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5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the. class ofpoles and more particularly to adjustablecornbination poles designed forwide range of use from support for clothesline .to ;tent..

The primary object of my invention is to improve the construction and efficiency of poles of the, type mentioned by providing simple attachments andadjustments to telescoping tubing.

A further object of my invention is to provide a pole of wide service at a minimum of expense.

Stillanother object of the invention is to proi a t y and. adjustable r le whi h "may also be made very compact and portable."

With .the above objects and other objects in view; as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of. the novel features of construction; combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinand set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which the like "reference characters will indicate corre-' sponding parts throughout the several views, in

which 7 Figure l is a vertical front view of my improved adjustable combination pole;

FigureZ is a side elevation thereof,

Fig.3 is a'view disclosing an equivalent pawl formation and arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pawl-holding ring, particularly disclosing an equivalent means for locking the pawl on the ring.

Fig. -5 is a sectionalview taken on line AA of Fig. 2.

Fig." 6 is a view disclosing an equivalent in the form of a ring-held pawl in combination with a wed e...

Figs? is a'fragmentary View showing the bifurcated portion of-the' upper-end attachment in positionfor use.

Referring to thedrawings in detail, I em-.

p-loy a 'lengthof metal tubing vI and a second length (both preferably annular) 2 having a diameter less than the first so that the tubingZ will readily slide longitudinally udthin the. tubing I. A close sliding fit is workable, but I prefer a fairly loose fit in general between the tubing I and 2 whenl flange a suitable'front portion of the lower extremity of the tubing 2, as shown at I6, for use with-my pawl arrangement. At the upper frontextremity of the tubing I I cut out a rectangular section as shown at H3, and in relative'ly close proximity in direct line below I out out a hole (either rectangular or circular) as.

The cutouts 5 and I 3 shown at -9 in tubing- I, are made to suitably receive the pawl 3 which is locked'to an annular ring ,6} after. the ring t and pawl 3 are assembled upon the tubing I, the pawl 3 having an opening 6 with a constricted portion a trifle larger than arelatively. smallsection of theringll which has beenreducedin thickness by the cutout 5, and whereasthe cutout 5'of the annular ring 4 is adequately filled by a punched.- out portion of the tubing I as shown at I2 after the pawl and ring are thereby ready to be locked together and fixedupon the, tubing I for limited movement only. The. lower, hooked extremity, of thepawl 3 is contained in the cutout 5 of the ring 2 whenring-andepawl are slid downinto opera.- tive position from the top of tubing VI, and then with. the. pawl in assembled position .at the front the ring 4 is. turned to bring cutout 5 to the rear of tubing I for looking as. shown at I2. The pawl 3 is seen asbeing held outward by thumb=ande finger, if a rubber band 39 under tension is used as shown connecting the pawl 3 and the tubing I.

Sonow the drawings, make it clear. that the pawl 3 has. a .lowerprojectiont which rests or hooks. on a shoulder .(made by ,thehole or cutout 9) near. the upperextremity of the tubing I, and -also.it is. seenthat the. pawl v3 has an upper projection designed tobe moved in-andout of a selected one ofa series of. holes I I formed in a longitudinal line innthe front of the tubing 2,'for the purpose of adjusting and fixing the telee scoping pole tov different lengths as required.

I make an annular flange at the lower extremity of the tubing I, to make more adequate footingon floor or ground, andwheneven better footing is required I press asheetr-metalpan. or cover I? over the lower extremity of .the tubing l. And then for still better footingl employ a sizable woodenblock or base. I8 beneaththe pan i'Lsaid base having a lengththat is several times its width,.or as. required. The base It! isremovably. attached to the tubing I by meansof springs 22, in. pair and fixed at opposite. ends of. the base I8 by means of a pair of nails 23, thepair of. springs 22 being also fixed to a .pair. of..hooks 24 which removably engage witha pairof holes 26 formed inthe tubing. I and suitably. disposedonopposite sides of said tubing. A dowelpin I9 is driven into thi base i8 and disposed to projectvertically fromthe center of theupper face .of. the base. I8 and to also project. througha fitting hole in the center of the pan IT. The dowel pin !9,is made to fit the pan (or hole. therein) I! rather loosely so as to allowfor a slight locking of the pole upon the .base I8; The hooks 2 2 are preferably made 7 from spring ,Wire and may have .a thumb-and.

finger grip 25 formed in integral connection .with

each hook. This thumb-and finger grip 25 serves to facilitateremoval of the books" from the. tubing I and also facilitates packing the base assembly when detached for compactness in transportation,

whereas the hooks. 24 are then hooked into suit.- ably disposed staples 20 and ZI driven. into. .the upper face of the wooden base l8.

A dual-form-fitting plug I3, preferably made from hard rubber (or equivalent), quite like a rubber cork, is molded to have a sizable steel pin I4 made integral therewith and to project longitudinally outward from one end only, while at the opposite end of said plug I3 a bifurcated formation provides a groove or notch at I5, so that the plug I3 may have a pressed fit with the upper extremity of the tubing 2 to allow the pin I4 to project longitudinally upward (as for use in supporting a tent), or the pin I4 may be disposed out of service by reversing theplug I3, as shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings, whereas the bifurcated formation and notch I come into position for use (as for support in the center of a slack clothesline).

Again referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, I employ an annular ring 35 made from coiled spring wire so that the inside of said ring 35 has a diameter that is normally less than the outside diameter of the tubing 2, and have a hook 36 integrally formed in connection with said ring 35, and do accordingly expand the ring by virtue of its formation from continuous wire in coils and do then slip the said ring 35 down over the outside of the tubing 2 to be frictionally connected therewith and at such a height or elevation (within limits) as I choose (for use to hold a coat-hanger, as in a tent-or to become a fastener for a clothesline). formed at either the lower or upper end of the spring wire in coil the other end of the wire in coil in the ring 35 may have formed therewith a detent which is fitting for engagement with a selected hole of the series of holes II, and for obvious reason the detent 3i may be formed diametrically opposite the hook 36 instead of on the quarter as shown in the drawings, although in any case the ring 35 may be turned upon the tubing 2 to cause the cletent 3'! to fit a hole II. Or the end 31 may be formed into a second hook to be engaged with the hook 36 extended and doubled back for fastening in the fashion of a safety-pin, to make a light and most secure fastener in the hook 36. Or in the manufacture of the ring 35, for equal security as a fastener, instead of ending the coil in a detent 31, I may extend the wire of the coil-made ring 35, at the end opposite the hook 36 so as to reach out quite as suggested by the line of dots 38 and have the extended end formed into an eye with tension pressing downward on the hook 36. Whereas an upward projection from the hook 36 would engage with the said eye, obviously to assure a lightweight, secure fastener.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I suggest the use of a clip 3I to fill the notch or cutout 5 of the steel ring 4, in lieu of employing the punched-out (or pressed-out) portion I2 of the tubing I, whereas by filling the cutout 5 with the clip 3| the pawl 3 cannot become unhooked from the ring 4, even if the latter should turn or rotate relative to the tubing I.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I show the use of a modified form of pawl 32 which is hinged upon the bolt 34 when I employ the bolt 34 in the securing of a clamp 33 properly disposed in connection with the tubing I.

Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawings, it will be seen that I may employ a wedge 29 in integral connection with a modified form of pawl 28, whereas an annular ring 39 has integral (or otherwise fixed) connection with the pawl 23 and is fitted loosely to slide longitudinally upon the tubing I and yet limited in upward sliding, mQVQ-.

The hook 36 being at It.

. pull the pawl 3 outward from a hole II.

ment by a stop 21 formed in the tubing I as shown. Obviously the wedge 29, in position as shown, serves to lock the tubing 2 into rigid connection with the tubing I when a suitable projection from the pawl 28 is engaged with a hole II of the tubing 2 while downward pressure resides in the latter.

Referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that a lower portion of the punched-out integral part I2 of the tubing I is pressed more particularly outward to form as a stop for limiting the downward longitudinal movement of the ring 4 relative to the tubing I.

Aside from the various modifications shown in the drawings, I have many others. in mind with the assumption that I may employ any known equivalent for a particular element or construetion which'I have shown or described. Still I may offer a few more suggestions from pertinent pictures which I have in mind. Again referring to Fig. 6 of the drawings, I may remove the wedge 29 and allow the ring 3&3 to become a simple bifurcated integral portion of the pawl 28, whereas rivets with countersunk heads would be employed in opposite sides of the tubing 2 so as to pass through holes in the bifurcated portion of the pawl 28 and so as to fix the pawl 28 to be hinged for adequate limited movement on said rivets. The plug I3 (as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and 7 of the drawings) may be made of metal and threaded to fit suitable threads formed in the tubing 2, or any other known form of connection may be employed tov adaptthe pin I 4 to its intended use. In lieu of the plug I3 (with the notch I5) I may form a suitable notch in the top of the tubing 2 by pressing the front and rear sides at the top suitably inward and downward, and then also a pin connection may be made to snap into this notch for ready removal by a thumb-actuated spring;

In lieu of holes I I, I may employ notches to fit a.

chisel-shaped pawl-element, and the tubing I and 2 may relate one to the other in a close sliding fit without the use of the flange shown A small coil spring may go around the tubing I and hook into the pawl 3 so as to hold an upper portion of the pawl 3 in the cutdut III except as thumb-and-finger is employed to The pan II need not be used, especially when I employ the base I8 and a fitting depression in the top face of the base I8 in lieu of the dowel pin I9, or even without said depression to fit the lower eXtremity of the tubing I. The base I8 may be made of pressed metal with mere holes into which springs 22 would hook in lieu of nails (or screws) 23, and integral cars would be employed in lieu of the staples 29 and 2 I; and otherwise as I show to be obvious. Moreover, such a special element as the rubber band 33 (or equivalent spring) may be omitted.

Then as clearly seen, I may employ tubing of square or rectangular section, and I may have the lower tubin of rectangular section while the upper tubing (smaller in section and slidable inside the lower) may be of square section and of metal of heavier gage or thickness, to make a construction well adapted to the use of a wide wedge built upon the idea shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, for the purpose quite obvious in view of other description herewith, and when using a pawl in connection with a wedge for locking telescoping tubing together the upper portion of the lower (larger) tubing may be rein-- forced with an extra band of metal as required formation to resist pressure of the wedge, and I may employ the flange, as suggested at IS in Fig. 2, as may be needed when tubing of square section is fitted for use with larger tubing of rectangular section. In fixed connection with the lower portion (below the ring 4) of the pawl 3 I may employ a small flat or wire spring (somewhat as operates in a safety-pin) to bear against the outside periphery of adjacent elevation of tubing for the purpose of normally forcing the pawl element 1 into engagement with a hole I I. Or I may have holes II in double series on opposite sides of the tubing 2 so as to employ a simple pin of suitable size pushed through a pair of holes II to adjust the length of the pole, in lieu of the pawl 3. And for added length to my improved pole I may employ a length of rod or tubing-of smaller section than in tubing 2 so as to be slidable longitudinally within the latter and to be adjusted therewith quite as the tubing 2 is fitted and adjusted with the tubing I. The plug I3 may be composed of suitable metal which is threaded and accordingly screwed into fitting threads formed on the inside of the tubing 2 and Whereas several different attachments like the pin l4 may be alternately screwed into a second threading (either internal or external) of the plu l3, and moreover as I may modify within the scope of my broad idea revealed herewith.

Quite obvious are the common and ordinary uses of my improved pole, and I need suggest only a little further. So I merely add that two of these adjustable poles, with the substantial base 18 attached, may be employed to support a temporary clothesline, whereas loops or eyelets at the ends of the line would be hooked over the pins I4 which are accordingly assembled to extend upward from the plug l3, and whereas also loops of a pair of guy-ropes would likewise hook over the pins l4, and preferably over or above the loops or eyelets of the realtively horizontal line (or clothesline) stretched between the pair of poles. And then a second line may be stretched between a pair of hooks 36, so that towels and washrags or other garments of short extent downward may be hun on one line while the other is adjusted for the hanging of garments of longer extent downward. And then if this double-line assembly is employed (not as a pair of clotheslines) in a play-lot with the pair of poles spaced about sixteen or eighteen feet apart it can form the basic element for playing the game of window ball which is described in detail in my pending patent, Serial No. 624,106, filed October 24, 1945, for Window Ball Play-Device.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of my invention may be had, and while I have shown and decribed the device particularly as embodying a specific structure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be made in said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a length of tubing, a pawl-holder slidable on said tubing, a pawl connected to said tubing by means of the pawl-holder and resilient means connecting the pawl to the ensemble including the length of tubing and the pawl holder, a longitudinally disposed element projecting in sliding connection with the length of tubing, and means in said element to engage with the pawl to make variable length in the resultant pole.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a length of tubing, a pawl, projection pole means between said tubing and the pawl, a pawl-holder slidable on said tubin and connected to the pawl, resilient means connecting the ensemble including the pawl and pawlholder to said tubing, a longitudinally disposed element projecting in sliding connection with the length of tubing, and means in said element to engage with the pawl to make variable length in a resultant pole.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a length of tubing, a pawl, projection pole means between said tubin and the pawl, a pawl-holder slidable on said tubing and having hinge-connection to the pawl, means to limit the length of sliding relation between the pawlholder and the tubing, resilient means connecting the ensemble including the pawl and pawlholder to said tubing, a second length of tubing telescoping with the first length of tubing and having means to engage with the pawl with the pawl to make variable length in a resultant pole.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a length of tubing, a pawl-holder slidable on said tubing, a pawl connected to said tubing by means of the pawl-holder and resilient means connecting the pawl to the ensemble including the length of tubing and the pawl holder, a longitudinally disposed element projecting in slidable connection with the length of tubing, means in said element to engage with the pawl to make variable length in a resultant pole, at footing element in relative proportion to steady the pole in upright position to facilitate adjustment of the pawl, and resilient means to attach said footing element to a free end of the length of tubing.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a length of tubing, a pawl, projection pole means between said tubing and the pawl, a pawl-holder slidable on said tubing and having detachable connection to the pawl, a boss on said tubing to limit the length of sliding relation between the pawl-holder and the tubing, resilient means connecting the ensemble including the pawl and pawl-holder to said tubing, a second length of tubing telescoping with the first length of tubing and having means to engage with the pawl to make variable length in a resultant pole, a footing element in relative proportion to steady the pole in upright position to facilitate adjustment of the pawl, and resilient means to attach said footing element element to a free end of the telescoping tubing.

GAIL HAMILTON HINES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 985,552 Robinson Feb. 28, 1911 1,374,609 Schell Apr. 12, 1921 2,045,484 Needham June 23, 1936 

